Turret.



No. 630,889. Patented Aug. l5, I899.

H. P. H URST.

TURRET.

(Application filed In. 8, 1897.) 1N0 Modal.) 2 ShaetsSheet Win Essa; [yum/2'07? ma NORmS mans co. Ppmoumo. msnmewm o. c

. several of the turrets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRIS I. HURST, OF SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI.

TURRET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 630,889, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed March 8, 1897. Serial No. 626,556. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HARRIS P. HURST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Summit, in the county of Pike and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turrets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in turrets which may be used on ships, in tort-s, or in any place where it is desired to protect guns.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter pointed out.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l repre sents a plan view of a vessel provided with Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical section taken through the turret and its accessories. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the turret.

In the drawings the letterA represents the turret. The portion above the deck or barbette is made of a shape which is substantially elliptical. In the chamber a is secured the gun B, which protrudes through the port-hole a. There may be a single gun, as shown in Fig. 1, or two guns, as shown in Fig. 3.

That portion of the turret opposite the gun port or ports may be enlarged or swelled, as shown in Fig. 1, and the front portion of the turret inclines hackwardly at any desired angle from the gun-ports, as shown in Fig. 3, thus presenting a deflective surface to the enemys fire.

The turret may be mounted with or without a barbette, and any desired machinery may be used to revolve the turret and perform the other functions of turrets.

With a turret so constructed the amount of exposed surface is minimized, as the end of the elliptical turret is not much larger than the gun itself. Moreover, a shot striking a turret of such a shape will more readily glance.

As shown in the drawings, the ends of the turret opposite the gun may be made heavier, as at a, so as to balance the turret.

I am aware that shields have been made for broadside guns, such shields being pointed at one end, through which the gun is fired. I am also made aware of a German patent to Parje, No. 7,889, dated February 2, 1879, wherein is shown such a shield to be used with a gun in land fortifications. In this patent there is not shown nor indicated a turret either elliptical or substantially so. The shield, as stated in the specification. is made pointed or like the spike of a helmet, so that when the gun-port which is at this pointed end is closed by a pointed plug the shape of the plug and of the shield lessens the danger of the gun being struck. As this is used in land fortifications which are fixed, there is more danger of the port-hole being struck than would be the case at sea. In my device there is a turret elliptical in shape. In the device shown in the German patent the shield snugly fits the gun, which does not protude from the shield. Both are moved together and constitute practically one structure. 'Within my device, which is a turret and not simply a gun-shield, the gun is independent of the turret, the barrel portion of the gun protruding from the turret, and the gun can be elevated or depressed without moving the turret.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An elliptical turret.

2. An elliptical turret, the front or port plates thereof inclining backwardly, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRIS P. IIURST.

\Vitnesses:

SAM. A. DEUEY, E. F. CAVERLY. 

